"Can we withstand such an attack?" Danae asked her face paling, the Labyrinth hadn't; been invaded in over a millennia, and a war of this scale hadn't occurred for centuries. There had been a fragile peace over the majority of the nine kingdoms over the last five hundred years, admittedly there had been a few minor border skirmishes, but those were considered a natural part of life. The last time an alliance of this magnitude had been formed the entire landscape of the underground had been changed.
Jareth sat down, holding his head in his hands. "I don't know 'Nae'" he whispered softly, "It's been such a long time since the Goblin Army has been tested, and the weight of four Kingdoms thrown against us."
"But we have alliances too Jareth. Dehairl and Hestonia will certainly answer the call, family ties will ensure that." Dehairl was ruled by Jareth's cousin, and Hestonia by Danae's uncle. When their father had married he had given much thought into his choice of brides, meaning that the three countries had a firm alliance, not only through written agreements, but united through blood. Uniting Kingdoms by marriage was common in the underground, as they provided a strong framework of alliance, which was then cemented by children, who shared a common bloodline in up to three or four kingdoms.
"I don't know if that will be enough." He said wearily.
"What about Bridga" she continued, almost on the verge of desperation.
"They refuse to partake in this affair." Ivanen answered for her "They have officially declared themselves neutral."
"And Elgard?" she finally sighed to Ivenan.
Ivenan paused for a moment before answering her slowly; his words were very precise, as if he was worried about her reaction. "My father has wanted an alliance with the Goblin Kingdom for many years, hence our betrothal and your eventual engagement to Roland." He stopped and Danae nodded for him to continue "Even in light of recent events my father still wishes for the alliance, as he fears that if the Goblin Kingdom were taken that Elgard would be next."
"Very well" said Jareth, "Your father has our allegiance."
Ivenan met Jareth's eyes then looked away sadly, "I wish it were that simple Jareth." He turned and looked at Danae, "My father wishes for a firm alliance."
"He wishes for our countries to be united by marriage?" Jareth asked, looking at Danae, watching for her reaction the whole time.
Ivenan nodded "It's why my parents sent me here today, to secure Danae's hand in Roland's stead."
For the entirety of the conversation, from the moment Ivenan had mentioned his father's wish for an alliance, Danae started making her decision. She had been betrothed to Ivenan since her birth, and years ago she had accepted the fact that one day she would have to marry him, until Roland came along and they fell in love. Ivanen, relieved, as there had never been anything between the two except for close friendship, had stepped aside for the pair.
"Danae?" Jareth asked her softly, leaving the bigger question unspoken.
Danae held her head up high, every inch of her princess-like and gave the only answer a girl in her situation could give "If you wish it of me Jareth, I will do my duty." She said it emotionlessly and formally. She was not unhappy with her decision, for Ivenan would make her a good husband, and it was a fine match, and would provide her kingdom with the aid needed to win this war. Yet a part in Danae broke, knowing that never again would she know true love like she had with Roland.
Jareth sighed with relief, he knew that Danae had always been willing to do her duty to the country, and she knew fine well that he had only ever agreed to the match with Roland because of the alliance with Elgard. And now it was an alliance that they most desperately needed, this war would be unlike any ever seen, the weight of four kingdoms thrown against the other four kingdoms, the underground would never again be the same.
It was Ivenan who spoke next, he walked over to Danae and kissed her hand gently, with genuine affection, "I wish things had worked out differently." He wished some how that he could make this up to Danae. He would do everything in his power to make this up to her, the fact that she was marrying him, a replacement for the man who would never come home from her.
"We all wish for many things Ivenan" she replied sadly, thinking of the man whose ashes she had watched been scattered by the winds over the four corners of the underground.
Dinner that night was eaten in relative silence, with the exception of Jareth and Aldous, who were in deep discussion about the days events. Sarah had not been able to find the advisor that afternoon, as he had been explaining to several not-so-bright goblins how to fix a gap in the wall surrounding the goblin city. It had, apparently, taken them several hours to understand the premise of bricks and mortar, even with Aldous' patient, then not-so-patient instruction. Danae ate, very little of, her dinner in complete silence, though she occasionally glanced up at Ivenan as if she wanted to say something, but then thought better of it. Sarah and Ivenan shared a little polite conversation, mainly to bridge the silence that descended over their part of the dinner table. After dinner Ivenan took Danae to one side in the entrance hall and the pair spoke in low whispers, as Jareth and Sarah watched over them, concern etched in the Goblin King's face. Just before he left Ivenan bid farewell to Jareth, promising to return within the week with word from his father. When Sarah returned her attention to where Danae had been standing the princess had already retired for the night, under the watchful eyes of Camille.
With Ivenan's departure, Jareth and Sarah were left alone in the entrance hall, Sarah feeling completely bewildered, having been totally excluded from the day's events. "What's going on Jareth?" she asked him quietly.
"Can I explain it tomorrow?" He asked her gently, she nodded wordlessly, seeing the weariness in his handsome face. He gazed at her intensely for a moment before drawing her close to him in a tight embrace, he bent his head and kissed her, passionately, his tongue slipped into her mouth, probing her, demanding a response. She kissed him back with everything she had, her senses reeling, he had never kissed her like this before, his hands wandering all over her body, causing a warmth to radiate through her. He pulled away from her suddenly, and rested his forehead against hers, fire blazing in his mismatched eyes. "I want you" his voice was so low it was almost a growl, and with his words need flooded through Sarah, and a longing that rivalled his. She brought her lips back to his and kissed him, desire coursing through both their veins. The world span and Sarah opened her eyes to find herself in a bedroom she did not recognise. Jareth's personal chambers.
The room was purple, the colour of royalty, but it was so dark that it was almost black, there was an ebony four poster bed at one side of the room, which Sarah currently had her back pressed up against as Jareth kissed her fervently. He ran his lips along the curve where her neck met her shoulder and his hands started to undo the ties of her dress, leaving Sarah in nothing but her corset and a pair of French knickers. His lips moved down to the swell of her breasts, and he bit a nipple through the lacy fabric, as Sarah started to work on his shirt, which she threw in a heap alongside her dress as she scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bed. His Hands deftly undid the stays on her corset, and he quickly removed his britches, and soon they were both lying together naked on his bed. When he entered her, Sarah had never felt a sensation like it, he was tantalising and teasing and Sarah drank him all in, her eyes dark with lust. Afterwards, they both felt thoroughly sated, and Sarah drifted off into a deep sleep wrapped in the arms of the Goblin King, who lay awake beside her for many hours.
When she woke that morning, she found herself in a strange environment, it took her a few minutes to realise where she was. She was lying naked in the Goblin King's arms. She turned her head slightly to look at Jareth, who was deep in slumber; he looked so peaceful that Sarah couldn't bring herself to wake him. However she was feeling strangely full of energy and couldn't bear to stay in bed any longer. So she gently untangled herself from the Goblin King's arms, silently got dressed and stole out of the chambers. When she reached the hallway, she suddenly realised that she had no idea of her whereabouts, she had never been in this wing of the castle and she had no idea how to get back to her rooms. As luck would have it, she bumped into Aldous, who was coming to wake Jareth. Sarah cringed mentally, she had just been caught doing the walk of shame by the King's advisor, who caught one look at Sarah's dishevelled clothing and tried, badly, to suppress a smirk, however he did take pity on her and transported her back to her own room before heading off to continue his duties, whistling merrily.
Later that morning Sarah found Danae in the gardens practicing her archery, Danae's skill with a bow was somewhat legendary within court social circles, and it was one of the few activities where Danae completely outshone her brother. However it was a natural gift and the princess rarely practiced, unless she was in a foul temper, and she used it as a way of venting her anger. However Sarah had yet to discover this, when she interrupted Danae that morning.
"Hey" Sarah said after watching Danae hit yet another target dead centre.
"Good morning Sarah" she replied coolly. Her voice was tinted with a warning frost which made Sarah feel uneasy. "How did you sleep?" she asked cattily, Aldous had seen fit to inform her about Jareth's dalliance earlier that morning, and although part of Danae was happy for the couple, another part, closer to the surface felt a deep bitterness and resentment towards them. She had just accepted Ivenan, to be married within a month, yet Jareth could do as, or who he pleased.
Sarah blushed, "Did you hear then?"
Danae nodded as she released another arrow. "I have good news Sarah." Though she didn't sound happy. "I am to marry Ivenan within the month."
Sarah was completely astounded, so this was the subject of Jareth's secret meeting last night, "But why? I thought you didn't want to."
"It was Jareth's decree." The young girl continued, coldly. It wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't really a lie.
"He's forcing you into this?" After all Danae had been through in the last month, an arranged marriage was the last thing that she needed.
"Sarah, I really don't want to talk about this right now. I just want to be alone for a while." She was in no mood to defend her brother right now.
Sarah nodded, walking away towards the castle. No wonder Jareth hadn't wanted to tell her what was going on last night, if she had known what he had done to Danae there was no way she would have slept with him. She marched up the steps to the throne room, ready for a confrontation with the Goblin King.
